Blog – Page 9 – Steve Banks Outdoors

Sea Kayak Leader training, Cumbria

We ran a Sea Kayak Leader training course over two days in South Cumbria last week. With two clients along to take the training and two who were attending as a refresher before assessment, a positive and beneficial two days was had by all. To add to the experience available for the trainees to tap into, Steve also invited two qualified leaders along to provide their perspective.

If you are interested in developing your knowledge and understanding of operating more safely on the sea either with peers, friends or as the leader of a group, this course will provide all you need. Contact Steve for a chat and see the website for dates. 07796 213817 & steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|November 16th, 2022|Sea Kayak|Comments Off

Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course, Cumbria

Steve ran a Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course last week for five sea paddlers keen to expand their knowledge and to improve their ability to plan safe trips on the sea. For the first time ever sea kayakers were outnumbered by paddleboarders. Steve has adjusted the course to better accommodate this new and rapidly growing activity. As the experience range of attendees is now significantly broader he’s made the course more practical and has moved some of the interesting, though not critical, theory to the Open Water Navigation course to make space for this. Everyone was pleased with the content and coverage. Steve will continue to refine the course to provide the best possible day for all concerned.

If you are paddling on the sea in any craft this course will make you aware of many critical issues you need to consider to help you make better decisions and to stay as safe as possible during your adventures. Steve advertises regular dates for the CN&TP course and also offers the Open Water Navigation course for those interested in more exciting environments and enhanced knowledge. He’s also happy to put on bespoke dates as required. If you’re interested in either event please check the website for dates or get in touch to discuss your needs: 07796 213817 & steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|November 16th, 2022|Sea Kayak, SUP|Comments Off

Cumbria Canoeing

The warm and wet conditions have made recent river conditions ideal for canoeing. Not wanting to miss the opportunity we had a trip on the River Greta towards Keswick. The Greta is a very pretty river with consistent white water all the way to Keswick, it is a more committing excursion in both canoe and kayak requiring a significant level of paddling skill to navigate solo. It is though, possible to take less experienced paddlers on a tandem canoe journey for at least part of the way down. This provides a exciting journey through the old deciduous woodland with the opportunity for friends or family to follow and see you by walking or cycling along the often adjacent cycle path.

If you would like to try canoeing, develop your canoeing skills or just to be guided down a stretch of beautiful water, give Steve a call and he’ll do his best to assist: 07796 213817 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|October 31st, 2022|Canoe|Comments Off

Canoeing in Cumbria

The weather gods have provided excellent canoeing conditions of late, so last week we were able to travel from Derwentwater, on lake and river, by paddling and sailing, in sunny, warm conditions with a very helpful breeze blowing us along. We encountered dippers, goldeneye and tufted ducks among the abundant wildlife, though didn’t spot the kingfishers on this occasion.

This is a relatively straightforward trip and Steve has no difficulty taking even a novice canoeist on a tandem paddling journey of this kind. It is possible to continue this trip all the way to the sea at Workington depending on water levels and the time of year, though this would certainly be a full day out.

If you’re keen on a canoeing adventure of this kind, Steve will be pleased to hear from you and happy to help: 07796 213817 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|October 28th, 2022|Canoe, Environment|Comments Off

Sea paddling navigation & planning courses for SUP and Sit on Top kayakers

Long the domain of sea kayakers with their fast, specialised craft festooned with safety equipment, the sea is now just as likely to have people out paddling on Stand Up Paddleboards and Sit on Top kayaks – certainly in nice weather and on popular coastlines. The rapid rise in popularity of these craft has, unfortunately, led to many newcomers, inadvertently, finding themselves in challenging situations on rivers and on the sea.

British Canoeing’s Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course is a one-day classroom based event which Steve has run for many years for sea kayakers and which he is now adapting to encompass the expanded range of craft and paddler experience found on seas around the UK. If you are a sea kayaker, stand up paddleboarder or sit on top kayaker who would like to improve their maritime knowledge so as to be able to make sound decisions and to plan safe trips on the sea then this course should be very beneficial.

Steve’s next courses dates are Nov 8th and Dec 9th 2022. If you would like to check if the right course for you please get in touch for a chat: 07796 21381 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|October 17th, 2022|Sea Kayak, SUP|Comments Off

Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course in Cumbria

Steve has two Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning courses coming up over the next few months – November 8th and December 9th. These indoor, theory based courses have traditionally been the preserve of sea kayakers seeking to be safer and more knowledgeable both for personal paddling and to prepare for leadership qualifications. Whilst sea kayakers still form the bulk of participants, we are now also seeing people attending who are paddling on sit on tops and stand up paddleboards on the sea. We’re very pleased to be able to support this relatively new group of sea paddlers, especially as the explosion in interest in these craft has led to many folk going out onto the sea ill-equipped in terms of knowledge and equipment. Hopefully the CN&TP course will be a great way to help improve all paddlers’ safety on the sea.

If you are keen to improve and develop your maritime knowledge and understanding so you can enjoy your craft in greater safety Steve will be delighted to help. If you’d like to know more about the course or to book onto one of the existing dates please get in touch at steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk or 07796 213817.

By Steve|September 28th, 2022|Sea Kayak|Comments Off

Yorkshire Dales Cave Leader training courses

Steve has a raft of Cave Leader and Vertical Cave Leader training courses on offer over the next three months. All the courses are in the Yorkshire Dales based near Ingleton. Training courses can be used to develop personal understanding and practice without any necessity to take the assessment. For those interested in the leadership qualification these courses provide all the necessary guidance and preparation – guidance which Steve will continue to make available between the training and assessment phases as needed.

Current Cave Leader training dates: 18th-19th October; 29th-30th November.

Current Vertical Cave Leader training dates: 27th-28th September; 1st-2nd November; 3-4 December; 6-7 December.

Assessments for both awards can be run at any mutually convenient time. Please call to discuss your requirements.

Additional and bespoke training courses as well as personal guiding and tuition can also be provided as needed anywhere in the UK and abroad. 07796 213817 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|September 21st, 2022|Cave|Comments Off

Hallin Fell

We had a short but pleasant ascent up Hallin Fell from Martindale in warm and sunny conditions. Whilst it is one of the Lake’s most straightforward hills to climb, it does offer excellent views over Ullswater and the surrounding mountains. Hallin Fell also happened to be the only Lakeland fell which Steve had not been up at least twice. He’s been up most of the 214 Lakeland peaks on multiple occasions though we’re not sure a full third lap is on the cards.

If you’d like Steve’s support for your walking, hiking, exploring and natural history, he’ll be pleased to hear from you and happy to help: 07796 213817 & steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|September 12th, 2022|Environment, Keswick Guided Walks, Mountain|Comments Off

Sea Kayak Leader training in Cumbria

As Autumn draws near, the time for a wide variety of professional outdoor training courses arrives with the more varied, seasonal conditions. For sea kayakers Steve has put on three Sea Kayak Leader training courses over the next few months, all based on the Cumbrian coast. He is happy to put on additional, bespoke dates if needed. Current course dates are 10th-11th Sept; 9th-10th Nov & 10th-11th Dec. All have the Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course on the preceding day.

Steve is one of the country’s most experienced and expert trainers with decades of varied and high level sea kayaking. He is also a national trainer for this discipline so is responsible for training and assessing the trainers and assessors as British Canoeing require.

If you are interested in becoming a safer and more effective sea kayaker or wish to gain a leadership qualification in this discipline please get in touch with Steve. He’ll be pleased to hear from you and happy to assist: 07796 213817 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|September 7th, 2022|Sea Kayak|Comments Off

The Devil’s Coach Horse

With such a fantastic name the Devil’s Coach Horse (Staphylinus olens) is a creature we should all be able to recognise. It’s not just a name either as this is a beetle not to be messed with! The Devil’s Coach Horse is a species of rove beetle, it’s about an inch in length and is a fast and voracious predator – it crushes other invertebrates with its large, powerful pincers. If threatened, it is famous for curling its tail upwards in the manner of a scorpion and will emit a foul smelling liquid from its rear if its posture hasn’t been deterent enough. If you still haven’t got the message it can sink its impressive pincers into you and inflict a painful bite. One to look at but don’t touch!

If you’re interested in learning more about the environment and nature Steve is always happy to lead walks and rambles to help develop your knowledge whilst having a nice day out. Get in touch on 07796 213817 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|September 6th, 2022|Environment, Keswick Guided Walks|Comments Off